Troubleshooting Persistent Blue Screen Errors After Factory Reset on Your Windows PC
Experiencing recurring blue screen errors can be a frustrating experience for any Windows user. If you’ve recently attempted to resolve such issues through a factory reset but continue to face problems, understanding the underlying causes and potential solutions is crucial. This article aims to guide you through diagnosing and addressing persistent blue screen errors, specifically focusing on the “KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED” error related to the “mfehidk.sys” file, which is often associated with security or antivirus software driver issues.
Overview of the Issue
A user recently reported repeatedly encountering a blue screen crash immediately after the HP logo appears during startup. The error code displayed is “KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED,” involving the “mfehidk.sys” driver. This problem began after a failed attempt to fix a prior issue marked by a grey screen, which was temporarily resolved by performing a factory reset. Unfortunately, the reset led to an ongoing blue screen loop, even in Safe Mode, making the system unbootable.
Key Details:
– Multiple factory resets attempted
– Blue screens occurring during boot sequence, just after the HP logo
– Error code: KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
– Faulting driver: mfehidk.sys
– Blue screens also occur when attempting to boot into Safe Mode
– Previous issue involved a grey screen, requiring reset without external boot media
Understanding the Error
The “KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED” error generally indicates a problem with a driver or system process attempting to access invalid memory. The specific mention of “mfehidk.sys” suggests that the issue is linked to the McAfee security suite driver, which may be corrupted, incompatible, or improperly installed. This is common when security programs interfere with startup processes or get damaged during system resets.
Potential Causes:
– Corrupted or incompatible antivirus/security software drivers
– Incomplete or faulty factory reset process
– Hardware conflicts or failure
– System file corruption
Recommended Troubleshooting Steps
- Boot into Safe Mode
Since the user reports blue screens during Safe Mode boot as well, troubleshooting becomes more challenging but still feasible. If Safe Mode is inaccessible, consider use of Windows recovery options.
- Power on the computer and press the power button to interrupt startup three times to trigger Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
- Navigate to “Advanced options” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings” > “Restart.”
- Select
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